Telephone system



June 27, 1933. G, RAYMQND 1,915,383

TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed March 11, 1932 CALL OPERATOR Z7 Patented June 27, 1933 pa rs STATES 'rsir.

GUSSIE I. RAYMDND, 0F CICEKO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGINOR T0 WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CGEPORATION 0F NEW YORK TELEPHONE SYSTEM Application filed March 11, 1932. ScriaINo. 598,199.

This invention relates to telephone systems, and more particularly to a device for optionally indicating a call at a called subscribers set made during his absence.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective device for indicating acall made during a called partys absence.

In its general aspects, the invention contemplates the use of a call-back indicator at the subscribers station and the employment of a call-back operator at a central station. Vhen a calling party finds that the called party is absent and does not answer the telephone, he notifies the operator if he wishes the called party to call back upon the called partys return. The operator then connects the calling subscriber to the call-back operator or secretary who makes note of the calling subscribe1"s name and telephone number and actuates the call-back indicator at the called subscribers set. Then upon the called subscribers return, the called subscriber observes that the call-back indicator of his telephone set has been actuated and he calls the call-back operator to learn the name and telephone number of the party who called during his absence. He may then call the party in the usual manner.

t is believed that a complete understanding of the invention maybe had by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a circuit diagram of a telephone system embodying the invention.

The invention may be embodied in a conventional telephone system having a cord circuit 4 provided with an answering plug 5 and a calling plug 6. The calling plug may be associated with a jack 7 from which lines 8.S lead to a subscribers telephone 9. The telephone 9 may have a conventional circuit and is provided with a ringer 11 connected at one side to the junction point of a condenser 12 and the secondary of transformer 13. The other s de of the ringer is connected to ground at 14.

A call-back indicator 15 is associated with the subscribers set and may be located in any convenient position; for example, the operating mechanism thereof may be located in the ringer box in such a position that an indicator plate 16 thereof will project from the box when in actuated position. The operating mechanism of the call-back operator has a lever 17 pivotally mounted at 18 on a base 23 and the other end of the lever carries a pin movable in a slot 19 in plate 16. A second lever 21 is pivotally connected to lever 17 and also at one end to plate 16. The other end of lever 21 carries a pin movable in a slot in the base Lever 21 of the call-back indicator carries a projection 24, which is adapted to engage behind a similar projection on an armature 25 of a relay 26 when the indicator is in its lower or retracted position. The engagement of these projections holds the in dicator in its lower position against the tension of a spring 27.

The coil of relay 26 is connected at one side to one of the lines 8 and at the other side through a condenser 28 to ground 14.

The operation of the system is as follows: W hen a calling subscriber calls a party, the operator inserts the plug 6 in jack 7 of the called partys line and actuates a key 81 to disconnect the tip and ring of plug 6 from the cord circuit and connect the ring to a source of alternating current 32, which is grounded on one side at The sourcethen supplies ringing current over the ring of plug 6 through condenser 12, ringer 11, to ground 14. If the called party fails to respond. the operator notifies the calling party of this fact and if the calling party wishes the called party to call back, the operator connects the calling party to call back operator who notes the name and telephone number of the calling party. The call-back operator then inserts aplug 30 in a multiple jack 3? of the called partys line and actuates a key fi l which connects the tip of jack 30 to the source of energy 32. This supplies current through the tip or" plug 30 to the windin g of relay 26 to condenser 28 to ground 14, thereby retracting armature 25 and allowing spring 2? to raise the indiciaplate 16 of the call-back indicator to its upper position. This will-notify the absentee called party upon his return that someone has called during his absence. Upon the return of the called party, he notes that his call-back indicator has been operated and returns it to normal by merely depressing the indicia plate 16. He then calls the call-back operator to learn the name and telephone number of the party Whocalled during his absence, whereupon he may call the party who called during his absence.

10 I Itis evident'that'the nature and embodimerit of the invention herein described and illustrated is merely illustrative of the invention and that many changes and modifications may be made therein Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

7 What is claimed is: v I

1. In a telephone system, a telephone set having a ringer and call-back indicator, a talking circuit, said ringer and call-back indicatorbeing connected in series and across the talking circuit, a ground connection between the ringer and call-back indicator, and means utilizing one portion of the talking circuit for actuating the ringer and another portion of the talking circuit for actuating the callback indicator.

2; In a telephone system, a telephone set having a ringer and a call-back indicator, a source of energy, and means for selectively 39 energizing the ringer or call-back indicator from said source of energy. I

3. In a telephone system, a telephone set having a ringer and a call-back indicator, ata-lking circuit, a source of energy, means 33 for energizing the ringer over a portion of said talking circuit from said source of energy,and means for energizingthe call-back indicator over a portion of said talking ciredit from said source of energy.

433 In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 'my name this 29th day of February 1932.

GUSSIE F. RAYMOND. 

